Gl'ol. Soc. Malaysia. Bulletin 17, December 1984; pp. 163-207.

A historical review of ways and means ofsearching for ore deposits in the

Southwest of England.

K.F.G. HOSKING1B Penlu, Tuckingmill, Camborne, Cornwall,

TR 14 8NL England.

"As, therefore, the productiveness of lodes depends on so many conditions. both inthe mechanical structure and mineral composition of the rocks. as well as of the lodesthemselves, and as experiences seems to show that the same characters assume a differentvalue in different districts. it is evident that the difficulty offorming an opinion on theprobability of success in mining is very great.

It must be confessed that neither theory, nor practical knowledge forms any verycertain ground. in the present slate ofthis branch ofscience. A more extended experience.and a more careful generalisation offacts seem to afford the only remedy. But when thevast variety of everchanging circumstances is considered, we can only hope that ourconjectures will at length attain a grealer probability, and that if they fail of absolutecertainty. they will. at least. lead to a closer approximation to the truth. "

(Henwood, W.J., 1843. pp. 234-235.)

Synopsis Many varieties of mineral deposit have been exploited in the Southwest of England.These include deposits which have been worked primarily for one or more of the following:-tin,tungsten. copper, lead, zinc. iron, manganese. arsenic, cobalt, uranium, pyrite. arsenic and barite.From an economic point of view the copper and tin producers collectively have proved to be by farthe most important.

A summary is presented ofour present knowledge of the nature and distribution of the mineraldeposits and the spatial and temporal relationships between these and the igneous rocks,particularly the granitoids.

Finds of mineral deposits based on chance, on quasi-scientific techniques and on scientific onesare noted and the evolution of the science-based aids to mineral exploration is traced in some detail.

It is pointed out that particularly since 1945 great strides have been made in the development ofaids to mineral exploration. But although these aids have been used to varying degrees, and haveproved to be of great use, the advantages accruing from their availability have to some appreciableextent been nullified by the increasing limitation of ground available for mining. This limitation islargely due to the need to preserve the environment. The common difficulty of establishing mineralownership also militates against mineral exploration in Cornwall and Devon.

PREFACE: One may ask why a historical review of ways and means of searching for ore depositsin the Southwest of England should appear in a Malaysian journal. There are a number of goodreasons why. In its time each Malaysia and the Southwest, has been the major lin producer of lheWorld. The Cornish mines have played a considerable role in the production of tin from Malaysia,and particularly from its major hard-rock mines. Indeed the exploration, 'Pining and beneficiationmethods employed at the major underground tin producer. the P.C.C.L's mines at Sungai LembingPahang, ha\'e been largely Cornish inspired. However during the times which are reliably